Electrically-heated insulated steam table



DeQ. 31 152911 HQ A1 HIHNDMAN ELECTRICALLY HEATED INSULATED STEAM TABLE Filed Jun 18. 1928 s Sheets-Sheet inventor Home/70 ,4. Hl/VDM/M/ G H01 not Dec. 31 1929. N A 1,741,569

ELECTRICALLY HEATED INSULATED STEAM TABLE Filed June 18. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet- 3 "INVENTOR.

W #0 W490 A.////VDM/)/V W I ATTORNES Patented Dec. 31, 1929 UNITED STATES HOWARD A. HINDMAN, OF SEATTLE, WASH INGTON ELECTRICALLY-I-IEATED INSULATED STEAM TABLE Application filed June 18, 1928.

This invention relates to a steam table and more particularly to a combination steam table and has for its primary object the construction of a cabinet sub-divided to provide plurality of warming chambers arranged in a predetermined relation to a heating tank, the latter heated by a novel construction of heating device including particularly formed return pipes providing proper circulation.

An object of the invention is the novel manner of constructing and establishing communication between the heating device and the water contents of the tank so as to not only assure rapid efiicient heating of the water contents of the tank, but assure rapid circulation to provide a uniform temperature throughout the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is the design of heating device communicating with the water contents of the table at an intermediate point and capable of generating steam bubbles so that rapid circulation is assured by the arrangement of suitably placed return pipes.

A feature of the invention is the novel manner of constructing the return pipes so as to not only provide the proper return flow of the water, but utilize the heat of the re turned water to keep the warming chambers at the proper temperature.

Besides the above my invention is distinguished in the construction of an electrically operated heater the component parts of which are so connected and assembled that the water circulation is accelerated while being properly heated, said heater acting in conjunction with a thermostatic control so as to reduce current consumption to a minimum.

Vith these and other objects in view, the invention will be best understood from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation of the combination steam table,

Figure 2 is a top planview,

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the table,

Figure {l is a sectional view on the line ies of Figure 1,

Serial No. 286,428.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 3,

Figure 6 is a large vertical sectional view of the heating device and associated parts.

Again referring to the drawings illustrating one of the many constructions of my invention, the numeral 1 desi nates the cabinet forming the major portion of my invention and sub-divided to provide one or more warming chambers 2, positioned directly below a water tank 3 that is suspended within the cabinet and fully insulated to prevent heat radiation from the water contents of the tank. It will also be noted that the cabinet includes in its construction suitably placed insulating material so that the proper heat may be confined in the various chambers. The tank 3 is provided with a top 4 which not only closes the tank but provides a support for the various cooking utensils 5 through the use of a plurality of openings 6.

A very important part of my invention resides in the novel construction of heater whereby the water contents of the tank 3 may be quickly and economically heated with a minimum consumption of energy and to accomplish this desired result I have provided an electrically operated heater having a novel arrangement with the water content of the tank 3 so that circulation will be stimulated.

It is, of course, to be understood that various other forms of heating devices may be utilized using various fuels, but for the purpose of illustration 1 have shown an electric type which has the additional advantage that the current consumption may be more accurately controlled. The electric heater consists of an electric heating element 7 secured to the bottom of a container 8 and projecting partway into the container so as to be properly surrounded by the water in the container 8. This container 8 has its outlet end 9 arranged at a predetermined distance above the bottom of the tank and centrally thereof for a purpose now to be described.

One or more return pipes 10 establish communication between remote portions of the tank 3 and the container so as to complete a circuit for the circulation of the water. These return pipes are preferably of coil formation so as to properly heat the Warming chambers 2 as the Water circulates.

It Will now be appreciated that when the heating device is set into operation such as when the switchll is closed, the heat gen erated by the resistance of the heating element will raise the temperature of the water arranged in the container 8 until a degree is reached corresponding to the boiling point of the water which causes bubbles of steam to arise Within the container 8 and escape centrally of the volume of Water in the tank 3. This action heats the water in the tank and in the return pipes with the result that circulation is stimulated to assure the proper heating of the entire water contents of the table by the electric heating element. As the water circulates through the return pipes it will be appreciated that heat radiating from the convolutions of the return pipes will heat the contents of the warming chamher and thus the eiculating water is not only capable of heating the vessels in the tank, but is further capable of keeping the temperature of the warming chamber at the required degree, which degree is controllable by the thermostatic device 12 arranged in the circuit of the electric heating element to control the energization thereof.

It will now be appreciated that I provide a combination steam table incorporating a plurality of warming chambers and a hot water supporting tank of a construction to hold a plurality of vessels submerged in the water contents thereof, a novel form 01 heater being utilized to cause pro} er circulation of the Water so as to properly and effectively keep the vessels, as well as the Warming chambers at the required temperature.

It is, of course, to be understood that the component parts of the steam table may be constructed in various other manners than illustrated and arranged in other relations and besides different types of heaters may be utilized in the combination, therefore, I do not desire to be limited in protection in any manner whatsoever, except as set :forth in the following claims.

What I claim is:

l. A combination steam table comprising a water tank, warning compartments arranged below the tank, a receiver arranged between the compartments and communieating with the tank, a heater associated with the receiver, and a coil arranged within each compartment and communicating with the tank and heater.

2. A ste m table comprising a water tank, a container extending through and above and below the bottom of the tank, the lower end of the container being closed and the upper end thereof being open and communicating with the tank, a heater associated with the container, and pipes communicating with, the 

